tryptophyl-histidine and epigallocatechin-gallate

Previously, we demonstrated synergistic enhancement of vasorelaxation by combination treatment with Trp-His and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) in intact rat aorta. The aim of the present study was to determine whether this vasorelaxant synergy could be recapitulated in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced inflammatory rat aorta, and to determine the extent of its modulation by anti-inflammatory phenolic acids. Synergistic enhancement of vasorelaxation in rat aorta by Trp-His and EGCg was significantly attenuated in the presence of TNF-α, an effect that was reversed by the addition of ferulic acid (FA, 250 μM). Moreover, FA markedly enhanced EGCg-induced vasorelaxation, but not Trp-His-induced vasorelaxation, in TNF-α-treated aorta. Structure-activity analysis showed that the unsaturated 2-propenoic moiety and the methoxy group of FA were important for the enhancement of vasorelaxation by EGCg. The stimulation of EGCg-induced vasorelaxation by FA was antagonized by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate, while FA enhanced vasorelaxant properties of the endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase activator acetylcholine in TNF-α-treated inflammatory aorta. Moreover, the EGCg-stimulated NO production was also enhanced by FA in TNF-α-treated aorta. These data indicate that stimulation of NO production by FA enhances the vasorelaxant properties of EGCg in TNF-α-induced inflammatory aorta.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Arginine; Catechin; Coumaric Acids; Dipeptides; Drug Synergism; Male; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vasodilation

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the enhancement of the vasorelaxation power of the antiatherosclerotic voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) channel (VDCC)-blocking peptide Trp-His by epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg). We found that 300 μM EGCg dramatically enhanced the magnitude of Trp-His-induced vasorelaxation by a factor of >6 (EC(50) of Trp-His: EGCg(-), 2.80 ± 0.05 mM; EGCg(+), 0.45 ± 0.04 mM) in phenylephrine-contracted rat aorta. The enhancing effect of EGCg was completely abolished in endothelium-removed aorta and high K(+)-contracted aorta. The enhancement of Trp-His-induced vasorelaxation by EGCg was significantly diminished by either N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine acetate (NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor) or 1-H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3]quinoxalin-1-one (soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor), together with the enhancement of NOS activity by EGCg. These results indicate that the enhancing effect of EGCg in Trp-His-induced vasorelaxation may be involved in the activation of NO/cGMP pathway.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Cardiovascular Diseases; Catechin; Dipeptides; Drug Synergism; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Vasodilation; Vasodilator Agents